Prayer for the Day

by Revd Canon David White

1st March 2026 - 2nd Sunday of Lent

God of justice and gentleness,
this Lent we lift before you all who hold authority –
from parish councils to prime ministers,
from presidents to army generals.
Turn their hearts toward mercy,
wisdom, and the common good.
Holy One, shelter the vulnerable,
strengthen those who work for peace,
and soften the hearts of those
who seek power at any cost.
Let your justice take root like rain on dry ground,
and your compassion rise
like healing light over the land. Amen.

This is a Lenten Franciscan prayer that asks God to help us look more broadly at the problems that affect communities and places where people live. Lent is seen as a time for personal reflection on our sins and shortcomings, but it is also a time for reflecting on the injustices that are embedded into those social, economic and political structures that perpetuate inequality and suffering in so many places in the world. This is known as ‘structural sin’, a term that states that sin is not only an individual act but is also a characteristic of society and culture.

The South African theologian Allan Boesak insists that the Christian faith cannot be separated from the social and political realities in which people live. For him, the Gospel always asks: Who benefits? Who suffers? Who is silenced? Who is seen? In the Gospels we notice that Jesus stands with those pushed to the margins, speaking truth to the systems that create and sustain inequality.

We are invited to follow Christ’s way – a path that is neither submissive nor violent, but grounded in truth-telling, courage and radical love. We are required to work in Christ’s name within our society and culture to bring about change for the healing and benefit of all humanity.